Words and Other Weapons is an abstract literary art piece that refuses to categorise itself in any singular literary genre. Instead, it offers a scenic, panoramic window into the relationships women have with self and society, diligently exploring questions of identity and adulthood, motherhood and marriage, relationships and careers, among others, and how these are reconciled with the maddening complexities and uncertainties of the external world. Thembe Khumalo deploys a range of different writing styles from stream of consciousness to gossipy chic lit, news reports to detailed dialogue and the end result for the introspective reader, is a collection that provides a bittersweet treat with layers of unique insights that keep the mind reflective long after the last page is turned.
"I truly enjoyed reading this book and each essay was special in its own way. The book tackles issues such as motherhood, marriage, relationships, growing up, genocide, image and a host of various other issues affecting people across the world. Her prose was easy to go through and was full of a lot of wisdom..."
"Perhaps the most striking feature of the book is the constant shift in tone and mood as one flipped through the pages...Coming from reading this book it felt like the warm comfort of having spoken to a friend, the wise counsel of a mother who has walked the road ahead and the unapologetic banter of a sister...."
"Reading these stories felt like a catch-up conversation with an old friend over a good cuppa. This collection is easygoing for the most part, raw, and a brave pursuit of self-expression. Khumalo explores the nature of personal relationships and how we navigate them..."